University Press Releases

SCU's Respected Women’s Soccer Coach Jerry Smith Renewed for Seven Years, Will Become Head of New "Coaching For Life Academy"

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 12, 2014—Santa Clara University has extended Bronco head women's soccer coach Jerry Smith’s contract for seven years. Smith is one of only three coaches in Division I women’s soccer to have won more than 400 career matches. In addition to leading the Broncos to the 2001 National Championship, Smith has seen the women reach the Final Four 10 times as well as winning 10 West Coast Conference titles in his 27-year history with the program.

Santa Clara University also announced that Coach Smith will be the executive director of the newly formed Jerry Smith Coaching for Life Academy. Smith will partner with the School of Education and Counseling Psychology Dean Nick Ladany. The Academy, focused on leadership skills training, will open the summer of 2014.

"I am extremely pleased that Jerry will continue as the head coach of our women's soccer team,” said Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, S.J. “Jerry's leadership, coaching and mentoring ability, knowledge of the game, and respect and care of his players exemplify the winning spirit of Santa Clara soccer. We know the next seven years will continue to feature stellar soccer in the exciting Smith tradition."

“I'm so thrilled that Jerry Smith has chosen to commit to Santa Clara University for the long term,” added Bronco Athletic Director Dan Coonan. “He has etched a rare and unique place for himself in Santa Clara athletics lore, and to hear him now, he's only scratched the surface. Jerry is a respected leader on campus and a natural mentor to coaches and staff in the Athletic Department. It’s a great day to be a Bronco!”

In 2013 the Broncos were 16-4-2 overall and shared the WCC title, the 10th in program history, with an 8-1-0 mark. Santa Clara made it to the Sweet 16. The Broncos tied top-seeded No. 4 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. before failing to advance on penalty kicks. Santa Clara was the second-highest scoring offense in the country during the season, outscoring opponents 62-25, and finished the season ranked No. 7 nationally.

“I am thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to finish my coaching career here at Santa Clara. I am a Bronco for life,” said Smith, entering his 28th season with the Broncos in 2014. “The vision, mission and core values of Santa Clara University, the Bronco Athletic Department and the women’s soccer program fit perfectly with my family and me. We are very excited about where we can go in the next 10 years and beyond, and believe the future is bright for women’s soccer and Bronco athletics as a whole. I look forward to continuing my passion for educating Bronco student-athletes and helping them prepare for success on and off the field.”

Smith’s career record is 410-126-52 and the team has advanced to the NCAA tournament in 25 of his 27 seasons at the helm. He has been named the WCC Coach of the Year seven times as well as the National Coach of the Year in 2001. Smith has coached two M.A.C. Hermann Award winners, three Honda Award winners, 45 All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans. Additionally, Brandi Chastain ’91, Nikki Serlenga ’00, Danielle Slaton ’02, Aly Wagner ’02 and Leslie Osborne ’05 have each won Olympic medals. Eight Broncos also have represented their countries in the World Cup. Through the years, 17 Broncos have represented their national team.

Smith has had 30 players advance to play professionally. Most recently, Santa Clara had two players drafted in the National Women’s Soccer League College Draft on Jan. 17, 2014. Senior Julie Johnston went No. 3 overall to the Chicago Red Stars, while senior Morgan Marlborough went No. 3 in the second round (No. 12 overall) to FC Kansas City.

The 53-year-old Smith resides in San Jose with his wife and former U.S. National Team member Brandi Chastain. His mother, Azucena Medina, lives with the couple and their son, Jaden Chastain Smith, born in June 2006. His oldest son, Cameron Smith, 25, is in his third year of law school at Santa Clara.

About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 8,800 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, theology, and engineering, plus master’s and law degrees and engineering Ph.D.s. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.